The Chicago Bears lost not one, but two defensive linemen to injury in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. And with the suddenly resurgent Cincinnati Bengals on the docket for Week 9, the Bears decided to bolster their group with former Green Bay Packer Jonathan Garvin.
The news comes in the wake of Bears head coach Ben Johnson announcing that the team would activate 2024 fifth-round selection Austin Booker off injured reserve.
However, it is also a sign of the critical nature of the depth at an already-maligned spot.
Bears Sign Ex-Packer EDGE Jonathan Garvin to Practice Squad
Jonathan Garvin Joins Bears After Extended Stay in Free Agency
The Packers, the Bears’ most heated rival and NFC North foe, selected Garvin with the No. 242 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons with the Packers, who waived him in July 2023.
Garvin signed with the San Francisco 49ers in August 2024, fluctuating between their practice squad and free agency, after spending that spring with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL.
The 49ers cut Garvin at the end of training camp and the preseason this year.
Garving is 6-foot-4 and 257 pounds. He has logged 32 total tackles, 7 QB hits, 2 pass deflections, and 1.5 sacks in 38 career games played. He has one career start but has not played during the regular season since 2022.
Injuries Forcing Bears’ DL Shuffle
Booker starred for the Bears during the preseason, recording 5.0 sacks in two games. But he suffered a knee injury in the Bears’ second preseason game, against the Buffalo Bills, and landed on IR.
His return could help spark a pass rush that has the sixth-fewest sacks and ranks 22nd in pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference.
However, the Bears suffered more personnel losses against the Ravens.
Johnson said Dominique Robinson, a fifth-round draft pick in 2022, will miss “a few weeks” with a high ankle sprain, while rookie second-round pick (No. 62 overall) Shemar Turner tore his ACL and is out for the rest of the season.
Robinson impressed a new coaching staff as a supplemental pass rusher. Turner was delayed getting onto the field this offseason, but he had helped, particularly against the run, recently.
Bears’ Depth Being Tested
Garvin would be more of a replacement for Robinson than Turner if he gets called up to the active roster.
The Bears will turn to Booker and former Los Angeles Rams seventh-round pick Daniel Hardy behind starters Dayo Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat, with 2024 undrafted free agent and former New England Patriots prospect Jamree Kromah currently on the practice squad.
The 2025 NFL trade deadline is on November 4 at 4 p.m. ET.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles must weigh the future as much as the present, particularly with injuries decimating their secondary. Still, EDGE could also be a target at the deadline.